Felled Without Warning: The 300–500-Year-Old Ancient Oak Tree Cut down in Whitewebbs Park

Above: All that remains of the oak after 300–500 years of life.

“I can't believe this has happened. This is a loss of a National Treasure” – Lawrence-Thor Stephen (Thor’s Trees)

On April 3rd, 2025, an irreplaceable and estimated 300–500-year-old ancient oak tree in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, was felled without public notice, and with no visible accountability.

This tree was a nationally significant Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), with a girth of 6.1 metres, officially verified on the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory by expert Mark Saunders. For hundreds of years, it stood as a towering testament to the richness of Enfield’s natural heritage.

Above: The ancient oak in full health, standing for up to five centuries before its sudden removal.

 A Tree of National and Ecological Importance

Ancient trees like this one are living ecosystems in themselves. This oak was a lapsed pollard, a sign of historical land management, left to mature over centuries into a vast and unique habitat. Its sheer size and age meant it was home to hundreds of species, many of which rely solely on old trees like this to survive.

Unbranded Contractors: No Signage, No Uniforms, No Public Notice

 Above: The felling in action. No visible identification on vehicles or workers.

Eyewitness photographs show that the contractors responsible for the felling operated with no branded uniforms, no signage on vehicles, and no publicly visible credentials.

 This has raised serious concerns in the community:

• Who hired them?
• Were they professionally qualified?
• Did they hold insurance and a waste carrier licence?
• Who verified their competency to fell a tree of such value?

Council Response: A Serious and Swift Investigation
Enfield Council’s Tree Team, recognised for their professionalism and care, have launched a full investigation and responded with urgency.

In a direct communication from the council:

“I carried out a full site inspection and recorded the work to the Oak tree and identified two further smaller trees that had been removed, and a further tree damaged in the process. We are treating this as criminal damage and it will be reported to the police.”

Key points confirmed by the council:

The land is leased to Mitchells & Butlers Retail Ltd, owners of the Toby Carvery.

The Toby Carvery site was closed for refurbishment at the time.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed they did not commission the work.

The tree was not within a conservation area and was not under a TPO, as it was on council-owned land (and they don't typically apply TPOs to their own trees).

A Temporary TPO has now been served in the hope of protecting potential regeneration.

The council is working with police to pursue criminal charges, and is in touch with Mitchells & Butlers for a formal explanation.

We deeply appreciate the Tree Team's dedication, and we urge the public to support them as they continue to investigate and defend Enfield’s natural assets.

 This Tree Had Greater Ecological Value than the Sycamore Gap Tree

Many will remember the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree near Hadrian’s Wall in 2023, which sparked national outcry and criminal proceedings. That tree was around 200 years old.

In comparison, the Whitewebbs oak was an estimated 300–500 years old, making it significantly older, and more valuable ecologically.

Why Ancient Oaks Are So Ecologically Valuable

The ecological value of a tree refers to how much life it supports and the role it plays in its environment. Ancient oaks like this one are among the most important habitats in the UK:

• Home to 2,300+ species: Including birds, bats, beetles, fungi, lichens, and insects, some of which are rare or endangered.
• Carbon stores: Huge amounts of carbon are locked in their massive trunks and root systems.
• Microhabitats: Hollows, cavities, and decaying wood host species that can’t live anywhere else.
• Soil health and biodiversity: Their root systems enrich and stabilise the land around them. 

An ancient oak is an entire living system that may take centuries to replace, if ever.

What Can Be Done?
We must ensure this never happens again. You can take action by contacting:

• Whitewebbs Ward Councillors: Reece Fox, Hannah Dyson, David Skelton
• Enfield North MP: Feryal Clark
• Cabinet Member for Environment: Chinelo Anyanwu

 Ask for:

More proactive TPOs on ancient and veteran trees

A full and transparent investigation

Clear answers on who authorised this felling

Stronger enforcement of tree protection policies

Let the Loss of This Oak Lead to Change

This was a loss for Enfield - it was a loss for the nation. But from this, we have the chance to build something better: stronger protections, greater awareness, and a renewed commitment to the trees that quietly support all life around us.

Let’s make sure this story is not just one of loss but a turning point for action.

"When an ancient tree falls, it's nature that’s wounded and a community."

Photo credits:

1. Paul Whiteing

2. Paul Whiteing

3. Sam Gracie Tillbrook, with the tree taped off after the commencement of Enfield Council's investigation

4. Sam Gracie Tillbrook

5. Mark Saunders, before felling

6. Russell Miller, before felling